Minnesota Scene: Gophers, UMD rise in hockey rankings

The Gophers men's hockey team climbed from ninth to seventh in Monday's USCHO poll, while Minnesota Duluth gained on unanimous No. 1 North Dakota, jumping two spots to No. 2 in a poll in which all five Minnesota Division I programs cracked the top 20.

Making big moves were Minnesota State Mankato, up seven places to seventh, and previously unranked Bemidji State, which entered at No. 18. St. Cloud State (0-2) is 14th.

• A weekend sweep of Minnesota Duluth helped the Gophers women climb from third to second in the USCHO poll, swapping places with Quinnipiac.

Wisconsin remained No. 1, while Minnesota Duluth is fourth.

After following a road victory over then-No. 1 Wisconsin with a loss at Michigan State, the Gophers volleyball team stayed at No. 3 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll.

Nebraska, which will be host to the Gophers on Sunday, moved up one spot to claim No. 1. Texas, which earned one first-place vote, is No. 2. The Badgers dropped to fourth.

Michigan State is 11th, up three spots.

Finalists for boys in Class 2A are Patrick Allan, Stillwater; Ryan DeBois, Maple Grove; Juan Louis, Minneapolis Washburn; Olaf Morkeberg, Lakeville North, and Tyler Stevens, Wayzata.

Finalists for 1A boys: Luke Horton, Benilde-St. Margaret's; Tyler Johnson, St. Paul Como Park; Jake Makela, Mankato West; Jesus Nevarez, Willmar, and Garrett Opperman, Breck.

Class 2A girls' finalists: Emily Bunnell, East Ridge; Temi Carda, Lakeville North; Kayley Josephs, Rochester Mayo; Makenzie Langdok, St. Michael-Albertville, and Morgan Turner, Wayzata.

Finalists for 1A girls: Maggie Conners, Visitation; Arianna Del Moral, Totino-Grace; Lauren Hansen, St. Paul Academy; Maren Noble, Benilde-St. Margaret's, and Maggie Peterson, Princeton.

The Gophers women's golf team was tied for ninth at 30 over par after the 36-hole first day of the 14-team Betsy Rawls Invitational in Austin,Texas.